What’s on – 283

MET Orchestra presents The Italian

The Metropolitan Orchestra celebrate their seventh birthday with The Italian. Designed to inspire the colours of Europe with a world premiere performance from acclaimed Australian Composer Sean O’Boyle AM, The Italian is based around a Mendelssohn work titled “Fantasy on a Theme of Mendelssohn”.The music selection reflects on Mendelssohn’s tour in Italy.

From its vigorous opening through to the lively conclusion, both audience and orchestra will be left hot and breathless on this cold Sydney winter’s night.The performance will include Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony no 4, which was performed by TMO in their first ever concert performance. Since then TMO has been widely acclaimed for their musical virtuosity.

Leichhardt Long Lunch

On Sunday May 29th you may notice the air smelling more delicious than usual, and if you follow the scents closely, I’m sure they will lead directly to Leichhardt Town Hall. Scores of chefs will be cooking up a storm and delighting the palates of the Inner West’s culinary inclined.

If promises of artisan food and wine stalls, cooking demonstrations and communal eating experiences aren’t enough to get you salivating and running to the festival, you can count on roving entertainment to keep the kids busy, along with Leichhardt Long Lunch’s very own Antiques Road Show! Local bestselling author Gabriella Kovac will also be launching her latest novel, Fierce Courage.

Leichhardt Long Lunch is completely free and will be running from 11am to 5pm. Come down and celebrate Leichhardt’s vibrant community.

Wed 25 May, 11am

National Simultaneous Storytime

City of Canada Bay Council is jumping on board the National Simultaneous Storytime initiative, which seeks to actively encourage and celebrate reading with children and families across Australia. Our Inner West festivity will feature a reading of I Got This Hat written by Jol and Kate Temple, with Concord Library securing a West Tiger’s personality for the reading gig. In the spirit of the book, don your favourite (or silliest hat) and join at one of the two locations. No bookings necessary!

24 May – 5 June, Opening Night 28 May, 4-7pm

Charles Olsson’s ‘Vibrancy and Distortion’

Following a successful showing at The Brick Lane Gallery in London, Charles Olsson is bringing his bright and visually dynamic exhibition to our very own Breathing Colours Gallery in Balmain. And what an appropriate venue, with Olsson’s work living and breathing colour! A must see for art fans, his work allows the viewer to be completely immersed in the piece and to come up with their own unique interpretations of the abstract scenes.

Where: Breathing Colours, 446 Darling St, Balmain

Sat 28 May, 10am to 11pm

“Get Folked” Mini Folk Fest

The gang over at The Gasoline Pony have teamed up with Merchant Brewing Co and Archie and Kirk café to deliver twelve hours of good-old folk entertainment, along with enough beers, coffee and snacks to get you through till the end. The Button Folk Collective and The Low Down Riders are just two awesome bands on the program, which includes over ten other local acts. May the folk be with you. Full day tickets are $25 and there will be a $12 food menu available.

Sat 28 May, 7pm

CO.AS.IT National Ball

CO.AS.IT invites you to their annual, national gala, which will be raising the funds necessary to expand the services they provide to the community, specifically in enabling the independence, participation and wellbeing of older Italians in our local community. The ball will feature a four-course meal along with entertainment by the De Bellis Show band. An excellent excuse to pull your black tie attire out of retirement, whack on some lippy and enjoy a night of decadence at a venue fit for a king.

Thu 2 June, 6pm

Authors at Ashfield

Fancy yourself a bit of a bookworm? A crime novel buff? Say no more and go see Nigel Bartlett in conversation with author A.B. (Andrew) Paterson as he discusses his debut crime novel, Harry’s World. The novel, set in our own backyard of Sydney, is set to keep you on the edge of your seat. While you are there, why not grab a copy, snag a signature and have a chat to the author. Best of all – the event is completely free!

1-13 June, 10am-6pm

Carriageworks & MONA FOMA Present Mathieu Briand

French artist Mathieu Briand has presented The Spiral, his interactive installation, all over the world and now it’s Sydney’s turn. Put simply, the installation involves five turntables playing on an endless loop, with the audience encouraged to intervene creating a sound that is then transferred to vinyl, transforming Carriageworks into an “experimental sound recording studio and performance space”. If you think this is too cool for Sydney, it’s because it’s being sponsored by our arty friends in Tasmania (MONA). Why not dip your toes into the sonic chaos. Afterall, it’s free!